Enclosure for submersible network protectors

ABSTRACT

An enclosure for a network protector in an electrical distribution network includes a cabinet body that defines an interior region that accepts the network protector. The cabinet body three electrodes sealed with and electrically isolated from the cabinet body and each other, which extend through the cabinet body to establish electrical connection between corresponding terminals of the network protector and the electrical distribution network. First and second doors are pivotably connected to opposing sides of the cabinet body and have respective contact surfaces to seal against the cabinet body. A first gasket is disposed along a distal edge surface of the first door, and a second gasket is disposed along a distal edge surface of the second door. At least a portion of the first gasket and the second gasket have conformal shapes that sealingly mate with each other when the first and second doors are in a closed position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a reissue of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/667,050(U.S. Pat. No. 9,379,526 issued Jun. 28, 2016), which claims the benefitof U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/972,635, filed Mar. 31, 2014, thecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to electrical distributionsystems. In particular, the present invention relates to an enclosurefor a network protector in an electrical distribution system.

2. Description of the Related Art

With reference to FIG. 1, a network protector 14 is a heavy duty switchdesigned to open and close under specific conditions within anelectrical distribution system. These conditions are defined by industrystandards. The operating voltage for a network protector is generally upto 600 Volts and is connected to the secondary (low voltage) side of adistribution transformer. The overwhelming majority of networkprotectors are installed in underground (sub-surface) structures 10.FIG. 1 illustrates dimensions (in feet and inches) of a typicalunderground structure 10. In most cases, the network protectors 14 areinstalled in sealed metal enclosures 12 designed to be submerged. Assuch, these enclosures 12 are referred to as “submersible networkprotector housings.”

As shown in FIG. 1, in certain cases, there are underground structures10 that are too small or confined to allow for safe installation andoperation of submersible network protector housings 12, which arenormally larger than non-submersible enclosures. In these cases,non-submersible enclosures have been used. Typically, the undergroundstructures 10 that house the non-submersible network protectorenclosures are equipped with sump pumps to prevent flooding.

However, the sump pumps are subject to malfunction due to a number ofreasons. During extreme flooding conditions, particularly tidal floodingconditions, much equipment is subject to destruction. This occurredduring Hurricane Sandy in New York City, for example.

A need for improved submersible network protector enclosures thusexists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments are directed to an enclosure for use within anelectrical distribution system. The enclosure is designed to contain acomponent of the electrical distribution system, preferably a networkprotector, and to withstand ingress of water into the enclosure,preferably up to depths of 25 feet.

The enclosure includes a cabinet body that defines an interior regionthat accepts the component (e.g., network protector). The cabinet bodyhas one or more electrodes sealed with and electrically isolated fromthe cabinet body, which extend through the cabinet body to establishelectrical connection between a corresponding terminal of the componentand an electrical distribution network. A first door is pivotablyconnected to a side of the cabinet body, and the first door includes acontact surface configured to sealingly contact a corresponding surfaceon the cabinet body. A second door is pivotably connected to an opposingside of the cabinet body, and the second door also includes a contactsurface configured to sealingly contact a corresponding surface on thecabinet body. A first gasket is disposed along a distal edge surface ofthe first door, and a second gasket is disposed along a distal edgesurface of the second door. At least a portion of the first gasket andthe second gasket have conformal shapes that sealingly mate with eachother when the first and second doors are in a closed position.

In certain embodiments, the first gasket includes a recess that extendsalong the longitudinal length of the first gasket and the second gasketincludes a corresponding protrusion that extends along the longitudinallength of the second gasket. The protrusion is shaped to correspondinglyengage with the recess when the first and second doors are in the closedposition.

In preferred embodiments, the first gasket and the second gasket aredisposed within respective recesses that extend along the respectivedistal edge surfaces of the first door and the second door. Also,preferably, at least a third gasket is disposed between the contactsurfaces of the first and second doors and the corresponding contactsurfaces of the cabinet body.

Various embodiments include a locking mechanism to lock the first andsecond doors in the closed position. In some embodiments, the lockingmechanism comprises a plurality of quick-release latching mechanismsdisposed between the first door and the cabinet body and disposedbetween the second door and the cabinet body. One or more quick-releaselatching mechanisms can also be disposed between the first door and thesecond door.

In other embodiments, the locking mechanism comprises a handle disposedon the second door that is mechanically coupled to one or more clampsconfigured to engage corresponding surfaces fixed within the cabinetbody when the handle is turned. The handle may also be coupled to a camthat is configured to engage a corresponding surface fixed to the firstdoor when the handle is turned. In such embodiments, it is preferredthat the first door includes a lip that is overlapped by the distal edgesurface of the second door when in the closed position, and that thesecond door includes a gasket to sealingly engage with this lip when inthe closed position. In certain variations, the contact surface of thefirst door can includes a recess that extends along the contact surfaceof the first door and that terminates at the lip, and a gasket isdisposed within this recess and protrudes above the recess. This gasketincludes an extension extending from the recess to seal a contactsurface of the lip with respect to a corresponding surface on thecabinet body when in the closed position, and a top surface of theextension is concave so as to be conformal to a corresponding surface onthe gasket of the second door. Furthermore, in such embodiments, it ispreferred that the gasket of the second door extends around an entireperimeter of the second door. Such embodiments may also includequick-release latching mechanisms.

For various embodiments, an external surface of the cabinet bodycomprises a plurality of radiating fins. The internal surface of thecabinet body may also include a plurality of fins thermally coupled tothe radiating fins.

In preferred embodiments, the cabinet body includes at least threeelectrodes sealed with and electrically isolated from both the cabinetbody and each other and which extend through the cabinet body toestablish electrical connections between corresponding terminals of anetwork protector set within the enclosure and the electricaldistribution network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein will be betterunderstood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, whereinlike reference numerals refer to like components. For the purposes ofillustrating aspects of the present application, there are shown in thedrawings certain preferred embodiments. It should be understood,however, that the application is not limited to the precise arrangement,structures, features, embodiments, aspects, and devices shown, and thearrangements, structures, features, embodiments, aspects and devicesshown may be used singularly or in combination with other arrangements,structures, features, embodiments, aspects and devices. The drawings arenot necessarily drawn to scale and are not in any way intended to limitthe scope of this invention, but are merely presented to clarifyillustrated embodiments of the invention. In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is top view of a prior art enclosure within an undergroundstructure.

FIG. 2 is perspective view of a first embodiment enclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 1 2.

FIG. 4 is right-side view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 1 2.

FIG. 5 is top view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 1 2.

FIG. 6 is top view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 1 2 with the accessdoors open.

FIGS. 7 to 11 are detailed cross-sectional views illustrating closing ofthe split-access doors for the enclosure shown in FIG. 1 2.

FIG. 12 is top view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 1 2 within anunderground enclosure.

FIG. 13 is perspective view of a second embodiment enclosure.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 13 with theaccess doors open.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 13 with the accessdoors open.

FIG. 16 is a right-side view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a detailed perspective view of a left door and gasket for theenclosure shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 18 is a detailed perspective view of a right door and gasket forthe enclosure shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating closing the doors for theenclosure shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating closing the doors for theenclosure shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the doors in a closedstate for the enclosure shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 22 is a detailed perspective view of a right door hinge for theenclosure shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 23 is a right side X-ray view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 24 is a detailed right side X-ray view illustrating a lockingmechanism for the enclosure shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 25 is a detailed top X-ray view illustrating a locking cam for theenclosure shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 26 is a top view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 13 within anunderground enclosure.

FIG. 27 is top view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 13 within anotherunderground enclosure.

FIG. 28 is perspective view of a third embodiment enclosure.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 28 with theaccess doors open.

FIG. 30 is a right-side view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 28.

FIG. 31 is a right side X-ray view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 28.

FIG. 32 is a detailed perspective view of a locking mechanism for theenclosure shown in FIG. 28.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Various embodiments of the invention are intended to allow for thenetwork protector to be submerged without damage yet still fit in anunderground structure that normally only allows for a non-submersibleenclosure.

A first embodiment submersible enclosure 100 is depicted in FIGS. 12-12. The enclosure 100 is made of metal, preferably steel, and isconfigured to withstand submersion in water to a depth of 25 feet (asmeasured from the bottom of enclosure 100) without water entering intothe interior region 101 of enclosure 100. By way of example, enclosure100 can be made from ¼ inch thick steel, and include a valve 104 used topressurize the interior region 101, preferably with an inert gas, suchas nitrogen, so as to further prevent the ingress of water. Interior 101of enclosure 100 is sized to accept a network protector 199. Enclosure100 includes a first door 110 and a second door 120, which are coupledby way of respective hinges 131, 132 on opposing sides of cabinet body140. Cabinet body 140, with doors 110, 120, defines internal region 101within which is disposed network protector 199. Cabinet body 140 ispreferably grounded, and includes three electrode openings 141 on a topsurface, which are used to respectively electrically connect tocorresponding electrodes on network protector 199. Each electrodeopening 141 accepts a terminal or bushing that is electrically isolatedfrom cabinet body 140 and extends through cabinet body 140 to connect tothe low voltage side of the electrical distribution network. Eachterminal or bushing forms a seal within its respective opening 141 thatprevents the ingress of water into interior 101. By way of example, theelectrode or terminal may be electrically isolated from the cabinet body140 by an insulating material, such as polyester, fiberglass, porcelain,epoxy, etc. The insulating material can be sealed against the cabinetbody 140 using a flat or O-ring type gasket to prevent water ingress.Other example includes examples include an electrode or terminal that ispartially encapsulated in a polymeric (e.g., rubber) material thatelectrically isolates the electrode and forms a seal against the cabinetbody 140 to prevent water entry.

The exterior surfaces of cabinet body 140 and doors 110, 120 includeradiating fins 102 to radiate heat that network protector 199 generateswithin internal region 101, which heat is radiated into an undergroundstructure 198. The interior surface of cabinet body 140 may also includefins, which collect heat generated within interior 101 and conduct thisheat to the radiating fins 102 on the exterior surface. Interior surfaceof doors 110, 120 may also include fins. The radiating fins 102 can be,for example, welded to, riveted to or integrally formed with cabinetbody 140 and doors 110, 120.

Hinges 131, 132 respectively pivotably and electrically connect firstdoor 110 and second door 120 to opposite sides of cabinet body 140. Thefront of cabinet body 140 has a jamb surface 142, and each door 110, 120has a corresponding contact surface 112, 122 configured to sealinglyengage jamb surface 142 when swung shut on hinge 131, 132 to provide awater-tight seal between the doors 110, 120 and the cabinet body 140. Tofacilitate such sealing engagement, one or more of the jamb surface 142and contact surfaces 112, 122 include jamb gaskets 152. In theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1 2-12, for example, a single gasket 152 isdisposed along each of the respective contact surfaces 112, 122 of thedoors 110, 120. Jamb gaskets 152 overlay the entirety of contactsurfaces 112, 122 of the doors 110, 120 to ensure a proper, water-tightseal between the doors 110, 120 and the cabinet body 140. It will beappreciated that although jamb gaskets 152 in FIGS. 7-11 appear to bediscontinuous, this appearance is simply a result of the cross-sectiontaken for FIGS. 7-11. In fact, for the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 2-11,jamb gaskets 152 overlay the entirety of their respective contactsurfaces 112, 122. As illustrated in FIG. 7-11, the interior of doors110, 120 can include steel stiffeners 113, 123 to ensure that doors 110,120 do not bow when interior 101 of submersible enclosure 100 ispressurized, and in the cross-sections depicted in FIGS. 7-11, thesestiffeners 113, 123 only appear to interrupt jamb gaskets 152.

To facilitate a water-tight seal between the doors 110, 120 themselves,each door 110, 120 includes a respective door gasket 154, 156. The doorgaskets 154, 156 run along the entirety of the distal edge surface ofeach door 110, 120—i.e., the surface of door 110, 120 that is mostdistal from hinge 131, 132 and that swings towards its correspondingsurface on the other door 120, 110. The door gaskets 154, 156 areconfigured to matingly engage with each other and are set within, andextend from, corresponding recesses 111, 121 that extends down thedistal edge surface of each door 110, 120. For example, door gasket 154may include a depression 155 that runs the length of door gasket 154 andis conformal with a corresponding protrusion 157 running the length ofdoor gasket 156 when doors 110, 120 swing shut, as illustrated in FIGS.7-11. As also illustrated in FIGS. 7-11, door gaskets 154,156 154, 156may be compressible against each other to ensure a tight seal betweenthe two. Flat contact surfaces 158, 159 on each door gasket 154, 156,which are respectively adjacent to depression 155 and protrusion 157,may contact and sealingly engage their counterpart contact surfaces 159,158 on the other door gasket 156, 154. Additionally, a protective strip150, preferably made of steel, may be disposed on the external surfaceof one of the doors 154, 156 110, 120 along and extending over thedistal edge surface of the door 154, 156 110, 120 to overlay, and thusprotect, the door gaskets 154, 156 when doors 110, 120 are shut.

One or more locking mechanisms 160 are provided on doors 110, 120 andcabinet body 140 to lock and clamp doors 110, 120 into the closedposition, thereby providing a watertight sealing of interior 101.Locking mechanisms 160 may be provided to lock doors 110, 120 to eachother, and to lock doors 110, 120 to cabinet body 140. The lockingmechanisms 160 pull doors 110, 120 towards jamb surface 142, and alsopull the distal edge surfaces of doors 110, 120 towards each other. Eachlocking mechanism is a quick-release latching mechanism including a hook162 disposed on a first surface, such as the exterior surface of cabinetbody 140, and a handle 164 pivotably connected to a second surface, suchas a door 110, 120. A loop 166 is pivotably connected near pivot point169 of handle 164 and engages with hook 162. The mechanical advantageprovided by handle 164 acting as a lever pulling on loop 166 draws thefirst surface towards the second surface, such as door 110, 120 to jambsurface 142, or first door 110 to second door 120. When in the lockedposition, the changed position of handle 164 causes pivot point 161 ofloop 166 to correspondingly change to a position with respect to pivotpoint 169 and end of handle 164 that causes tension on loop 166 togenerate a torque on handle 164 that urges handle 164 into the lockedposition, or which aligns the pivot points 169, 161 with loop 166 sothat handle 164 is at least not urged out of the locked position.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, in contrast to the single door enclosure 12depicted in FIG. 1, the split-door arrangement of the embodimentenclosure 100 provides for significantly more space (over 19 inchesversus three inches in the prior art) between doors 110, 120 and thewall of underground structure 198 when doors 110, 120 are opened. Thisadditional space greatly facilitates access to interior region 101 ofenclosure 100, and thus to network protector 199.

A second embodiment submersible enclosure 200 is depicted in FIGS.13-27. Similar to enclosure 100, enclosure 200 is made of metal,preferably steel, and is configured to withstand submersion in water toa depth of 25 feet (as measured from the bottom of enclosure 100 200)without water entering into the interior region 201 of enclosure 200.Interior region 201 is sized to accept a network protector 299, andcabinet body 240 can include a pressure valve 204 to pressurize interiorregion 201. Enclosure 200 includes a first door 210 and a second door220, which are coupled by way of respective hinges 231, 232 to opposingsides of cabinet body 240. Cabinet body 240, with doors 210, 220,defines internal region 201 within which network protector 299 isdisposed. Cabinet body 240 is preferably electrically grounded, andincludes three electrode sets 241 on a top surface. Each electrode set241 electrically connects to a corresponding electrode or bushing onnetwork protector 299, and thus extends through cabinet body 240. Theelectrodes/bushings in each electrode set 241 are electrically isolatedfrom cabinet body 240 and are used to connect to the low voltage side ofthe electrical distribution network. Each electrode set 241 is sealedwith cabinet body 240 to prevent the ingress of water into interior 101,such as by way of a flat gasket.

The exterior surface of cabinet body 240, and optionally doors 210, 220,includes radiating fins 202 to radiate heat that network protector 299generates within internal region 201, which heat is radiated into anunderground structure 298. The interior surface of cabinet body 240 mayalso include fins 203, and optionally doors 210, 220 as well, whichcollect heat generated within interior region 201 and conduct this heatto radiating fins 202 on the exterior surface of cabinet body 240. Theradiating fins 202, 203 can be, for example, welded to, riveted to orintegrally formed with cabinet body 240 and doors 210, 220.

Hinges 231, 232 respectively pivotably and electrically connect firstdoor 210 and second door 220 to opposite side of cabinet body 240. Thefront of cabinet body 240 has a jamb surface 242, and each door 210, 220has a corresponding contact surface 212, 222 configured to sealinglyengage jamb surface 242 when swung shut on hinge 231, 232 to provide awater-tight seal between doors 210, 220 and cabinet body 240. Tofacilitate such sealing engagement, one or more of the jamb surface 242and contact surfaces 212, 222 are provided with jamb gaskets. Forexample, such jamb gaskets can include a first jamb gasket 252 and asecond jamb gasket 254 respectively disposed on the first door 210 andsecond door 220. Jamb gaskets 252, 254 overlay the entirety ofrespective contact surfaces 212, 222 of doors 210, 220, and partiallyoverlap with each other, to ensure a proper, water-tight seal betweendoors 210, 220 and cabinet body 240.

To provide contact surfaces 212, 222, the distal edge surface of eachdoor includes a recess 211, 221 that extends around the rim of door 210,220 that forms contact surface 212, 222, and each jamb gasket 252, 254is disposed within its respective recess 211, 221. Each jamb gasket 252,254 extends partially from recess 211, 221 so as to make contact withjamb surface 242.

As best illustrated in FIG. 17, distal edge surface of first door 210 isrecessed with respect to the main outer surface of door 210, therebyproviding a lip 213 that forms an L-shaped cross section and which, whenin the closed position, is overlapped by a corresponding portion of thedistal edge surface of second door 220. Recess 211 terminates at thislip 213, but first jamb gasket 252 continues, jogging downward with lip213 to provide an extension 253 extending from recess 211, thus ensuringthat contact surface 212 of lip 211 213 is properly sealed. Lip 213 mayinclude a notch to accommodate and provide backing for extension 253 offirst jamb gasket 252. Extension 253 may co-terminate with contactsurface 212 of lip 213 or may extend slightly beyond lip 213.Additionally, top surface of first jamb gasket extension 253 is concaveso as to be conformal to the outer surface of the corresponding portionof second jamb gasket 254 on second door 220.

As best illustrated in FIG. 18, second jamb gasket 254 of second door220 extends in a continuous manner around the entire perimeter of seconddoor 220, including a vertical section 256 that runs from the top ofsecond door 220 to the bottom of second door 220. As further illustratedin FIGS. 19 and 20, first door 210 is first closed against cabinet body240, so that first jamb gasket 252 and extension 253 seal againstcontact surface 242, thereby sealing both the main portion of first door210 and lip 213. Then, as further illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 24, seconddoor 220 is closed against both cabinet body 240 and lip 213 of firstdoor 210. Second jamb gasket 254 seals against contact surface 242,ensuring a seal between second door 220 and cabinet body 240. Verticalportion 256 of second jamb gasket 254 seals along lip 213 of first door210, thus ensuring a seal between doors 210, 220. Terminal ends ofvertical portion 256 contact and seal against the conformal, concavesurface of extension 253 of first jamb gasket 252, thus ensuring thatlip 213 is properly sealed.

As illustrated in FIG. 22, each hinge 231, 232 may be adjustable so asto ensure that the respective door 210, 220 properly seals against bothcabinet body 240 and the other door 220, 210. By way of example, hinges231, 232 may include a first bolt 233 to adjust the longitudinal spacingbetween door 210, 220 and cabinet body 240—e.g., move door 210, 220forward or backward with respect to cabinet body 240. Each hinge 231,232 may further include a second bolt 234, perpendicular to first bolt233, to adjust the lateral positioning of door 210, 220—e.g., move door210, 220 left or right with respect to cabinet body 240.

First bolt 233 connects to a pivoting mechanism fixed to door 210, 220,and to an adjusting block 236 movably mounted within a frame 238 fixedto cabinet body 240. Rotation of first bolt 233 adjusts the distancebetween pivoting mechanism 235 and adjusting block 236, and thus adjuststhe longitudinal spacing of door 210, 220.

Second bolt 234 connects to adjusting block 236 and frame 238. Rotationof second bolt 234 moves adjusting block in and out of frame 238, andthus adjusts the lateral positioning of door 210, 220.

As illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 23-25, a locking mechanism 260 isprovided to lock and clamp doors 210, 220 into the closed position,thereby providing water-tight sealing of interior 201. Locking mechanism260 includes a handle 261 on second door 220, which connects to a cam269 on the interior side of second door 220. Rotation of handle 261causes a corresponding rotation of cam 269. Coupling between cam 269 andhandle 261 is designed to be water-tight, including gaskets and othersuitable sealing mechanisms as required and known in the art to preventingress of water through handle 261.

Cam 269 is pivotably connected to linkages 268 extending to the top andbottom of second door 220. Ends of linkages 268 are pivotably connectedto a respective end of clamp hooks 264 positioned at the top and bottomof second door 220. Rotation of cam 269 translates into a displacementof linkages 268 that pull up or push down on their respective ends ofclamp hooks 264.

Clamp hooks 264 are each pivotably connected to a respective supportsurface 263 mounted on the interior surface of door 220 at top andbottom locations. As linkages 268 move up and down, causingcorresponding pivoting of clamp hooks 264, clamp hooks 264 bear upon ormove away from a respective bearing surface 266 fixed within cabinetbody 240. When clamp hooks 264 bear upon bearing surfaces 266, seconddoor 220 is pulled tightly against both jamb surface 242 and lip 213 offirst door 210, thus locking both first door and second door 220 intothe closed position.

To further ensure tight coupling between vertical portion 256 of secondjamb gasket 254 and lip 213 of first door 210, cam 269 can be providedwith a beveled surface 267 which, when rotated by handle 261, comes intocontact with, and then bears upon, a corresponding engaging surface 265on first door 210. As handle 261 rotates, increasing pressure is appliedto engaging surface 265 via beveled surface 267, thus firmly lockingfirst door 210 to second door 220 and pressuring lip 213 upon verticalportion 256 of second jamb gasket 254.

As illustrated in FIGS. 26 and 27, in contrast to the single doorenclosure 12 depicted in FIG. 1, the split-door arrangement of theembodiment enclosure 200 provides for significantly more space betweendoors 210, 220 and the wall of underground structures 298 when doors210, 220 are opened.

A third embodiment submersible enclosure 300 is depicted in FIGS. 28-32.Doors 310, 320 (and related sealing gaskets 352, 354), hinges 331, 332and cabinet body 340 are substantially similar to the correspondingdoors 210, 220, hinges 231,232 231, 232 and cabinet body 240 of thesecond embodiment enclosure 200 and thus are not discussed. Thirdembodiment enclosure preferably also includes a first locking mechanism360 that is substantially identical to locking mechanism 260 of secondembodiment enclosure 200.

However, regardless of whether or not enclosure 300 includes this firstlocking mechanism 360, enclosure 300 includes a second locking mechanismin the form of one or more a quick-release latching mechanisms 370 thatare substantially identical to the a quick-release latching mechanisms160 of the first embodiment enclosure 100. As shown illustrated in FIGS.28-32, the quick-release latching mechanisms 370 are preferably disposedon top and bottom sides of doors 310, 320, to couple to cabinet body340, as well as along the hinge-side of each door 310, 320. Inparticular, quick-release latching mechanisms 370 are preferably setimmediately adjacent to each distal edge surface of each door 310, 320at top and bottom sides of door doors 310, 320.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention hasmany applications, may be implemented in various manners and, as such isnot to be limited by the foregoing embodiments and examples. Any numberof the features of the different embodiments described herein may becombined into one single embodiment, the locations of particularelements can be altered and alternate embodiments having fewer than ormore than all of the features herein described are possible.Functionality may also be, in whole or in part, distributed amongmultiple components, in manners now known or to become known.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could bemade to the embodiments described above without departing from the broadinventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that thisinvention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but itis intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention. While there have been shown and described fundamentalfeatures of the invention as applied to being exemplary embodimentsthereof, it will be understood that omissions and substitutions andchanges in the form and details of the disclosed invention may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theinvention. Moreover, the scope of the present invention coversconventionally known, future developed variations and modifications tothe components described herein as would be understood by those skilledin the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. An enclosure for an electrical distributionsystem, the enclosure comprising: a cabinet body defining an interiorregion configured to accept a component of the electrical distributionsystem, the cabinet body including at least an electrode sealed with andelectrically isolated from the cabinet body and extending through thecabinet body to establish electrical connection between a correspondingterminal of the component and an electrical distribution network; afirst door pivotably connected to a side of the cabinet body, the firstdoor comprising a contact surface configured to sealingly contact acorresponding surface on the cabinet body; a second door pivotablyconnected to an opposing side of the cabinet body, the second doorcomprising a contact surface configured to sealingly contact acorresponding surface on the cabinet body; a first gasket disposed alonga distal edge surface of the first door; and a second gasket disposedalong a distal edge surface of the second door; wherein at least aportion of the first gasket and the second gasket have conformal shapesto sealingly mate with each other when the first and second doors are ina closed position, the first gasket comprising a recess extending alongthe first gasket and the second gasket comprising a correspondingprotrusion extending along the second gasket, the protrusion shaped tomate with the recess when the first and second doors are in the closedposition.
 2. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein the first gasket and thesecond gasket are disposed within respective recesses extending alongthe respective distal edge surfaces of the first door and the seconddoor.
 3. The enclosure of claim 1 further comprising at least a thirdgasket disposed between wherein the contact surfaces of the first andsecond doors and the corresponding contact surfaces of the cabinet bodyeach include a jamb gasket.
 4. The enclosure of claim 1 furthercomprising a locking mechanism to lock the first and second doors in theclosed position.
 5. The enclosure of claim 4 wherein the lockingmechanism comprises a plurality of quick-release latching mechanismsdisposed between the first door and the cabinet body and disposedbetween the second door and the cabinet body.
 6. The enclosure of claim4 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a handle disposed on thesecond door mechanically coupled to at least a clamp configured toengage a corresponding first surface fixed to the cabinet body when thehandle is turned.
 7. The enclosure of claim 6 wherein the handle isfurther coupled to a cam configured to engage a corresponding secondsurface fixed to the first door when the handle is turned.
 8. Theenclosure of claim 7 An enclosure for an electrical distribution system,the enclosure comprising: a cabinet body defining an interior regionconfigured to accept a component of the electrical distribution system,the cabinet body including at least an electrode sealed with andelectrically isolated from the cabinet body and extending through thecabinet body to establish electrical connection between a correspondingterminal of the component and an electrical distribution network; afirst door pivotably connected to a side of the cabinet body, the firstdoor comprising a contact surface configured to sealingly contact acorresponding surface on the cabinet body; and a second door pivotablyconnected to an opposing side of the cabinet body, the second doorcomprising a contact surface configured to sealingly contact acorresponding surface on the cabinet body; wherein a distal edge surfaceof the first door comprises is recessed with respect to a main outersurface of the first door, thereby providing a lip that forms anL-shaped cross section along the entire length of the distal edgesurface of the first door and which is overlapped by the a correspondingportion of a distal edge surface of the second door when the first andsecond doors are in the a closed position.
 9. The enclosure of claim 8wherein the second door comprises a second gasket is further configuredto sealingly engage with the lip when the first and second doors are inthe closed position.
 10. The enclosure of claim 8 9 wherein the contactsurface of the first door comprises: a recess extending along thecontact surface of the first door and terminating at the lip,; and theafirst gasket disposed in the recess and protruding above the recess, thefirst gasket comprising an extension extending from the recess to seal acontact surface of the lip with respect to a corresponding surface onthe cabinet body when the first and second doors are in the closedposition; wherein a top surface of the extension is concave andconformal to a corresponding protruding surface on the second gasket ofthe second door.
 11. The enclosure of claim 10 wherein the second gasketextends around an entire perimeter of the second door.
 12. The enclosureof claim 6 further comprising a plurality of quick-release latchingmechanisms.
 13. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein an external surface ofthe cabinet body comprises a plurality of radiating fins.
 14. Theenclosure of claim 13 wherein an internal surface of the cabinet bodycomprises a plurality of fins thermally coupled to the radiating fins.15. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein the component is a networkprotector.
 16. The enclosure of claim 15 wherein the cabinet bodyincludes at least three electrodes sealed with and electrically isolatedfrom both the cabinet body and each other and extending through thecabinet body to establish electrical connections between correspondingterminals of the network protector and the electrical distributionnetwork.
 17. The enclosure of claim 16 wherein when in the closed statethe cabinet body and the first and second doors are configured toprevent ingress of water into the interior region for water depths up totwenty-five feet.
 18. The enclosure of claim 5 further comprising atleast one quick-release latching mechanism disposed between the firstdoor and the second door.
 19. The enclosure of claim 8 furthercomprising a locking mechanism to lock the first and second doors in theclosed position.
 20. The enclosure of claim 19 wherein the lockingmechanism comprises a plurality of quick-release latching mechanismsdisposed between the first door and the cabinet body and disposedbetween the second door and the cabinet body.
 21. The enclosure of claim20 further comprising at least one quick-release latching mechanismdisposed between the first door and the second door.
 22. The enclosureof claim 19 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a handle disposed onthe second door mechanically coupled to at least a clamp configured toengage a corresponding first surface fixed to the cabinet body when thehandle is turned.
 23. The enclosure of claim 22 wherein the handle isfurther coupled to a cam configured to engage a corresponding secondsurface fixed to the first door when the handle is turned.
 24. Theenclosure of claim 22 further comprising a plurality of quick-releaselatching mechanisms.
 25. The enclosure of claim 8 wherein an externalsurface of the cabinet body comprises a plurality of radiating fins. 26.The enclosure of claim 25 wherein an internal surface of the cabinetbody comprises a plurality of fins thermally coupled to the radiatingfins.
 27. The enclosure of claim 8 wherein the component is a networkprotector.
 28. The enclosure of claim 27 wherein the cabinet bodyincludes at least three electrodes sealed with and electrically isolatedfrom both the cabinet body and each other and extending through thecabinet body to establish electrical connections between correspondingterminals of the network protector and the electrical distributionnetwork.
 29. The enclosure of claim 28 wherein when in the closed statethe cabinet body and the first and second doors are configured toprevent ingress of water into the interior region for water depths up totwenty-five feet.